University of KwaZulu-Natal

The School of Life Sciences, which is located on the Pietermaritzburg and Westville campuses, is one of five schools at the College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science. The School has a staff complement of 117 academic and support staff; houses approximately 1609 undergraduate students; and boasts a postgraduate component of 606, engaged in Honours, Masters, PhD and Postdoctoral research. The School’s cutting edge laboratories and research equipment compare favourably with the best in the world. Caring and enthusiastic lecturers ensure that students emerge highly employable.

This field of study encompasses all human, plant and animal life – ranging from microscopic germs to elephants and everything in between. Areas of specialisation within UKZN’s School of Life Sciences include: Biochemistry, Biology, Cellular Biology, Ecology, Genetics, Marine Biology, Microbiology.

Biology, Ecology, Marine Biology

General Bachelor's degree focused on cellular to organismal biology.

yes

full time

http://clmstl.ukzn.ac.za

http://clmsresearch.ukzn.ac.za

Marketing, Supply chain Management, Entrepreneurship

A Masters programme by research.

yes

full time, part time

A general accounting programme. Student can complete a major in Economics, IS&T or Finance.

yes

full time

A programme, that through the 4 majors - Accounting, Auditing, Tax and Estates planning and Managerial Accounting & Financial Management, can go on, through a further period of study, to write our (South African) Chartered Account (CA) Board exams, to qualify as a CA.

yes

full time

UKZN’s School of Chemistry and Physics is one of five Schools at the College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science. It is located predominantly on the Pietermaritzburg and Westville campuses, with a small Engineering service presence on Howard College. It has a staff complement of 148 academic and support staff , houses approximately 600 undergraduate students and boasts a postgraduate component of 250, engaged in Honours, Masters, PhD and Postdoctoral research.

The School’s cutting -edge laboratories and research equipment compare favourably with the best in the world. Caring and enthusiastic lecturers ensure that students emerge highly employable, with a rich university experience and an excellent degree in Chemistry or Physics to their name.

Chemistry, Applied Chemistry, Chemistry and Chemical Technology

Chemistry and Physics teach one to solve problems. To be a Chemist or Physicist one needs an enquiring mind, good powers of observation, mathematical skills, practical ability, the adaptability to learn new skills throughout one’s career, and the social skills necessary to share one’s ideas with colleagues. These skills all make graduates from UKZN’s School of Chemistry and Physics highly employable.

yes

full time

As Computer Science is a rapidly challenging field the curriculum of programmes offered by the discipline is reviewed regularly. In 2010 the exit level modules were examined and a set of four core modules that provided the best balance between the theoretical, software engineering and systems aspects of computer science were prescribed. First and second year modules were reviewed while also making a slight change to the 3rd year modules due to our renewed emphasis on Artificial Intelligence focus. The curriculum has been benchmarked against national&international standards.

http://computerscience.ukzn.ac.za

Research focus areas in Computer Science fall within various fields of Artificial Intelligence. Specific areas of focus in Artificial Intelligence in the School include Knowledge Representation and Reasoning (KRR), Image Processing and Computer Vision, Biological Inspired Computing, Optimization, Adaptive Systems and Data Mining.

http://computerscience.ukzn.ac.za/research.aspx

Artificial Intelligence, Image Processing, Bioinformatics

Our programmes are designed to conform to international best practice with respect to curriculum, contents, and practical relevance. Students have a strong focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI), which prepares them well for both further study and specialisation in AI and the industry. Over the years, it has been very difficult to retain our double major and other students in graduate studies as they are highly sought after by the South African industries and attracted by high remuneration packages. This is a testament to the quality of programme.

yes

full time

The BScEng is a 4-yr honours equivalent professional degree with a strong science foundation and some specialisation in the 4th yr. Degree closely monitored by ECSA to meet their required Exit-level outcomes. It is both scientific and academic and practical with application of learning undertaken in practical sessions in large, well-resourced workshops. Design modules provide training in research and presentation skills. Degree undertaken in the English language. Our top students are internationally competitive.

http://www.ee.ukzn.ac.za/UndergraduateInfo/Electrical-Engineering.aspx

The Masters degree allows for additional specialisation. Masters are technical and academic at a high standard, preparing for the PhD thesis where innovative research is possible. Academics are required to undertake research and to publish. The main research areas attract funding from industry

http://www.ee.ukzn.ac.za/PostgraduateInformation/postgraduateresearchinformation.aspx

High Voltage Direct Current, Communication Technology, Material Science

Electrical Eng includes both high and low voltage engineering applications from the generation of electricity in power stations or units, electricity distribution, electronic equipment and applications to computerisation. The BScEng is a 4-yr professional, honours-equivalent degree allowing for professional registration. The 1st 3 yrs provide the basic science with specialisation opportunities in the 4th yr. Design modules prepare students for research and the Masters dissertation. It is scientific and technical with Physics, Chemistry, Applied Maths and 3 yrs of Maths.

yes

full time

Our first year Mathematics modules (Math 110/120) attempt to bridge the gap between ‘maths for use in other subjects’ and ‘maths as a discipline in its own right’. Applicable topics such as calculus, linear algebra and introductory combinatorics are taught, but as the course progresses, there is a gradual increase in the rigour with which these topics are treated, thereby ensuring that the students have exposure both to the activities of the pure mathematician and to the techniques required by the applied mathematician and other scientists.

Apart from general research in Pure and Applied Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science, the following focus areas are highlighted: Astrophysics and Cosmology; Artificial Intelligence; Financial Mathematics; Mathematical Biology and Biostatistics.

Mathematics, Computer Science, Statistics

Over the last 300 years, however, it has become clear that mathematics is an important subject in its own right, and not just a slave to other disciplines. Scientists have become aware that in order to develop powerful problem-solving tools, one needs quite ‘abstract’ mathematics; a body of pure mathematics is required which can be studied independently of physics, biology and other user-disciplines. Pure and Applied Mathematics are therefore offered as different subjects, although there is much interdependence between them and each serves as an inspiration to the other.

yes

full time

Offer a 4-yr professional Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree, honours equivalent, for professional accreditation as Mechanical Engineers. Provide a broad-based, traditional Engineering approach at UG level with some opportunity to specialise in 4th yr and further specialisation at PG level. Have design modules in degree. Have strong science basis, including Physics and Chemistry, Applied Maths and 3 yrs of Mathematics. Have large workshops and provide substantial hands-on training. Our top graduates are internationally competitive.

http://mecheng.ukzn.ac.za

The 4th year design project teaches the fundamentals of engineering research and prepares students for a Masters degree. The research Masters is technical, scientific and demanding but does not require innovation, which is required at the PhD level. There is a vibrant research environment in mechatronics: search and rescue, bioengineering and manufacturing systems, solar energy applications, aerospace systems and materials research.

http://mecheng.ukzn.ac.za

Mechatronics, Material Science, Aerospace Systems

Mechanical Engineering Bachelors is a broad-based technical, applied, scientific discipline involving the construction, design and management of machinery: the development of tools and processes used in production facilities and in the transport and mining industry as wekk as ub necgatribucs and robotics.

yes

full time